5 Questions About The Rivian R1T Truck Answered

Rivian is making headlines with a recent $700 million investment from Amazon.

The Rivian R1T electric truck is one of two vehicles that the Detroit-based automaker hopes to bring to market and Amazon’s Rivian investment will certainly help speed up the process.

Essentially the first concret all-electric truck headed for production, the Rivian R1T has some pretty impressive specs on paper. Let’s take a closer loo.

What’s New About The Rivian R1T?

Rivian R1T | Photo: Rivian

The R1T electric truck is all new. Introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November along with the R1S sport utility vehicle, it’s powered by four electric motors with one motor coupled to each wheel.

Rivian is marketing the R1T as both an on-road and off-road performer. It can for example wad in up to 3 feet of water and there’s a quad drive system with an off-road driving mode. The Rivian R1T has a 34 degree approche angle and a 30 degree departure angle.

It’s four electric engines develop 750 horsepower together and can propel the R1T to 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds. The Rivian truck is not only fast, it’s also capable with 800 kg (1,760 pounds) of payload capacity and 5,000 kg (11,000 pounds) of towing capacity.

Three batteries – 105 kWh, 135 kWh, and 180 kWh – will be available eventually. Range is rated at 230, 300, and 400 miles respectively. The R1T will be able to charge at fast charging stations at 160 kW and also includes an 11-kW on-board charger.

In terms of versatility, the Rivian R1T offers two cargo areas. The gear tunnel can hold 350 liters while the front trunk can hold an extra 330 liters. There’s a spare tire under the bed, three 110V outlets in the bed, and a cargo transport system with racks that can fit on the roof, the bed or the bed floor. An extra 95 liters of cargo space is added under the seats.

How Much Will It Cost?

Rivian R1T | Photo: Rivian Automotive

The Rivian R1T will start at $69,000 US with the 135 kWh battery. The 180-kWh battery version will also be available at launch with the base battery arriving later. A $1,000 deposit is required to reserve your R1T.

Buyers in Canada can also reserve an R1T with the same deposit. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed in Canada but expect a starting price of roughly $85,000.

When Will It Arrive On the Market?

The first Rivian R1T trucks will begin arriving on the market in late 2020 according to the automaker.

Who Are The Rivian R1T’s Direct Competitors?

Rivian R1T | Photo: Rivian

For now, there’s very little competition. Tesla has been talking about a pickup but we haven’t seen anything concrete just yet.

What Do We Think About It?

There are a lot of electric vehicle automakers that make a big splash before vanishing just as fast as they said their car is. Rivian doesn’t look like it will be one of them. There’s money, a legitimate production plan, a reasonable starting price and realistic specs. For now, we’re kind of excited about Rivian. Consider us on the bandwagon.

Charles Jolicoeur was studying to be a CPA when he decided to drop everything and launch a car website in 2012. Don't ask. The journey has been an interesting one, but today he has co-founded and manages 8 websites including EcoloAuto.com and MotorIllustrated.com as General Manager of NetMedia360. He also sits on the board of the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada.

Motor Illustrated is all about cars. We want to inform consumers about the latest automotive news, and hopefully provide them with the info they need when buying a new or pre-owned car. We also tend to be pretty opinionated.